“Sustainability: Improving the quality

of human life while living within the

carrying capacity of supporting eco-

systems”IUCN/UNEP/WWF (1991). "Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable

Living." Gland, Switzerland.

This is not one

Nor is this one

Or this one

Or this one

Or this one

The structure has to be seen! – I wanted to leave the steel

structure exposed but Fire Safety regulations did not allow me to

do so – we had to attach fake stained bronze structural

elements to approach what I was looking for – every time I think

about it I feel like crying! Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Seagram

Building, NY, 1958

Fire Safety – Sustainable Infrastructure and

Communities

José L. ToreroBRE Centre for Fire Safety EngineeringThe University of EdinburghUnited Kingdom

Fire Safety & Sustainability

Is Fire Safety part of the “concept of sustainability”?What are the drivers?What are the issues?How can we address them?

What are the Drivers

Minimize general environmental impactMinimize green house emissionsEnergy conservationIndoor air quality“Green” Material SelectionRecyclabilityEfficient waste management , etc.

Urban Planners, Architects and Engineers consider these variablesSpace, geometry & orientationMaterials/FabricServices (lightning, HVAC, etc.)Sensors & ControlManagement (waste, energy, etc.)

Do they consider Fire Safety? NO!

How is Fire Safety Addressed?

In a reactive mannerWhen possible by meeting codes

and regulationsWhen not, by means of

engineering solutionsAlways an add on to the

“sustainable solution”Limits optimized solutionsAdds a cost

Why?Fire Problem is very complicatedProfessionals and authorities are

not always educated to make correct choices

There is an erroneous perception that the problem is being managed

Fire Safety is thus not a main driverFire Safety does not contribute to

the “Green” agenda

What does it take to make a building fire safe?

We have “rules,” “tools” and “professionals”

We can make a building safeBut we work in isolation!

How can we integrate fire safety to sustainable development?

Requires an understanding of the specific problem

Requires an understanding of where we fit in the design process

Requires an understanding of the main drivers

Requires achieving recognition that our best practises support sustainable development

Fire as Part of SustainabilityFire Safety needs to be included in the

“Green” building certification processFire is a potential “life cycle” path of a

building – thus preventing a negative outcome should be accounted as a measure towards sustainability

The problem is that we do not know how to transmit this message!

We respond to the challenges of sustainability – we are not proactive, thus we generally get to the train station when the train has already left!

What goes wrong?The sustainable agenda

sets the challengesWe then try to solve the

problemBy the time we learn

what is necessary...The challenge is a new

one ... We have now a new problem!

Example: Material RequirementsTo achieve energy conservation

requirements insulation has to be introduced

Flammability requirements imply use of fire retardants

Fire retardants change the molecular structure of plasticsInduce charringIntumesceInhibit combustion chemistry

No Fire Retardants

Fire Retardants

Environmental ConcernsLeaching, Mobility, Bio-accumulation, Recycling

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)

Penta/Octa/Deca brominated diphenyl ethersHexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) Organophosphate esterschloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) Tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) Halogens

Fire RetardantsFire Engineers made fire retardants an

integral part of their strategyWe ignored their environmental

impactWe were called to replace themWe had no available technologyThey were banned without us being

able to reactThe train left the station before we got

there!...Plastic manufacturers responded for

us

“Green Solutions”:Nano-Clays Nano-clays migrate

to the surface when melting, preventing gaseous fuel generation

x

x=0

YO,YFYO(0)

YF(0)

Pilot

To

x=O x=F x=CH

x=T

x=P

x=L

T(0)

P(0)=1 CH=CH(0)

VR

VP

VCH

VT

)0(qCv

)0(qSR

)L(qL

pm

Om

eq

Heat Release Rate

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Time [sec]

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350U-1

U-2

U-3

U-4

Ed-50(1)

Ed-50(2)

Ed-30(1)

Ed-50(A)

Kashiwagi et al., Nature, 2003

Test Dependency

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Time (s)

HR

R (

kW/m

2)

NF_01 (50kW/m2, ins)NF_03 (30kW/m2, ins)NF_04 (30kW/m2, alu)NF_05 (50kW/m2, alu)

The Outcome

Fire safety is being challenged

The solution proposed is inadequate

...we do not have a better solution!

SummaryFire is an integral part of sustainabilityWe do not have resources to respond to the

challengeWe do not train people to think of fire safety as

part of the design of sustainable infrastructureThe result:

We are not considered part of the sustainability agenda – there is no incentive!

We can only respond with limited resources – the train leaves before we get to the station!

We have less and less control over the outcome – fire safety is controlled by others!

The FutureWe need to jump into the sustainability

train – provides an incentive for Fire Safety

We need to change the way in which we see our profession – from imposing safety to delivering a better/more sustainable infrastructure

We need to invest to put us ahead of the curve!

Thankyou!www.see.ed.ac.uk/fire